It's official: Law signs $30 million deal

Posted: Tuesday, July 25, 2006

By By Doug TuckerThe Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Cornerback Ty Law passed his physical and officially signed a five-year, $30 million contract with Kansas City on Monday, giving a huge boost to a defense that appears to be on the rise.

Law then rushed out in search of a house, requiring the Chiefs to reschedule a news conference with the five-time Pro Bowler for today.

"We are very pleased to have Ty with us," Chiefs president and general manager Carl Peterson told The Associated Press. "I just talked with our doctors. He's fine. He came in at 208 pounds. He's been working out and it shows. He's ready to go."

The Chiefs brought Law in twice last year when he was on the free agent market but were concerned about his injured foot. But he signed with the New York Jets and, coached by Herman Edwards, led the NFL with 10 interceptions.

Now he'll be reunited with Edwards, who left the Jets at the end of the season and replaced the retired Dick Vermeil in Kansas City.

A five-time Pro Bowler who played on New England's Super Bowl champions, Law is the most decorated player the Chiefs have acquired since the early '90s when they brought in Joe Montana and Marcus Allen. And even Peterson was surprised at the reaction when word got out on Sunday that he and Law had come to agreement on contract terms.

"I am taken aback at how this has been received by Chiefs fans all around the country," Peterson said.

Law, 32, will team with another former Pro Bowler, Patrick Surtain, to form what could be a formidable defensive secondary.

"It was one of the longest negotiations I've been involved in," Peterson said. "His agent called us right after he was released from the Jets and said, 'You need to have Ty Law.' I said we sure had an interest. But when he threw up those first numbers, I said we were not that interested. It had to work for us for our (salary) cap and cash. And after five or six months, we finally came to agreement."

The Chiefs open training camp in River Falls, Wis., on Friday.

Peterson also said he remains confident first-round draft pick Tamba Hali, a defensive end out of Penn State, will be signed in time for the opening of camp.